AFSPA in AP due to state govt's failure to curb militancy: BJP

The Arunachal Pradesh unit of BJP today said that the decision to impose Armed Forces Special Powers' Act (AFSPA) in 12 districts of the state was taken due to failure of the state government to curb militant activity which is on the rise in recent times.
"It was not a unilateral decision of the Centre. Regular intelligence feedbacks have painted a dismal scenario of the prevailing law and order situation in the state," BJP state unit president Tai Tagak said here.
"Even Chief Minister Nabam Tuki recently pleaded with the union home ministry to deploy 2,000 additional para military personnel to tackle insurgency in the state," he said.

Tagak said earlier AFSPA was imposed on an area of 20 km of each district bordering Assam.
However, after the December carnage by NDFB(S) in Assam, the Centre has launched Operation All-Out in Assam.
This has led to the militants sneaking into Arunachal Pradesh beyond the AFSPA area where operation by the security forces cannot be launched.

"In the recent review meeting of Unified Command structure in Guwahati the representatives from Arunachal Pradesh highlighted the grim situation in the state...There is no pro-active government in the state to control the law and order situation," he said.
On people's apprehension about extension of AFSPA to entire state, Tagak said it was not clamped on the entire state but to 12 districts which would be lifted when situation normalises.

"AFSPA is an evil necessity. Its imposition in 12 districts has exposed the state government's failure to curb insurgency. We do not want such a draconian law in our peaceful state but situation has compelled the Centre to take such a decision," he added.
"It is high time state government must rise to the situation," Leader of Opposition Tamiyo Taga said.
"The state government is sleeping and extension of AFSPA is a result of bad governance in the state," he added.